Machine for printing on containers



Sept. 11, 1 R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,

MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORNEYS I: I INVE TORS Sept. 11, 1 51 R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL2,567,232

MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS p 1951 R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,567,232

MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CONTAINERS I Filed April 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet4 A M. 5 Q w m w hwv zzzii fii 3 A Ia R Q m 00 3 Q Q a Q a N as INVENTOR5 BY ZZM& 1&4-

ATTORNEYS Sept. 11, 1951 R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,567,232

MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet5 \l INVENTORS z f /4&2}

2M 54am ATTO R N EYS p 11, 1951 R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,567,232

MACHINE FOR PRINTING oN CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTORS a a? BY QM .21

ATTO R N EYS p 1951 R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,567,232

MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1951 MACHINE FOR PRINTING ONCONTAINERS Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, and William F. Grupe,Lyndhurst, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application April 12, 1948, Serial No. 20,558

6 Claims. 7, (Cl. 101-44) v The present invention relates to a printingmachine and has particular reference to printing or marking indicia orlegends on containers and the like, such as containers for frozen foods,milk, etc.. 7

An object of the invention is the provision of a printing machine forimprinting markings on containers wherein empty, lightweight flexibleor. easily crushed containers such as fibre containers and the like, maybe quickly and clearly marked with desired legends while moving in aprocession through the machine so that containers suitable forpreserving a variety of products may be economically marked to designatethe particular product to be packed in the containers passing throughthe machine.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein a group of thecontainers maybe readily separated from the procession of containers andthe containers in the group marked simultaneously so as to expedite theprinting operation and to thereby efiect high speed rates of production.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein each containerof a group of empty containers being marked is supported fully andsolidly during the marking operation so that irrespective of theflexibility of its Walls afull and clear mark may be produced.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a printing machine embodying the instantinvention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine shown in Fig. l, with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine as viewed from the right in Fig. 2,with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line5--5 in Fig. 4, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a part sectional part elevational view taken substantiallyalong the line 6-6 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the vertical linel---! in Fig. 6 with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a 2 clutch detail shown inFigs. 4 and 5, with parts broken away;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 inFig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged sectional details taken substantially alongthe lines Ill-l0 and lI-H in Figs 9 and 8 respectively, parts beingbroken away.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawingsillustrate a machine for printing desired indicia such as the name of aproduct or a packer or producer or other information, onto a side wallof empty rectangular shaped fibre containers A (Figs. 1 and 2) havingsheet metal bottoms B attached thereto in a suitable end seam, such asfor example, containers used for frozen foods and the like. The top endsof the containers are open.

With such a machine a packer that puts up a variety of products may usea standard labeled or printed container suitable for all varieties ofproducts and print any auxiliary or additional information peculiar tothe particular product being packed, at the time or just prior to theproduct being filled into the containers. Thus by the provision and useof such a machine it is unnecessary for a packer to keep on handquantities of specially marked containers for all of the varieties ofproducts that he intends to pack. Such an arrangement saves a great dealof time and labor and avoids delays and spoilage.

The empty containers A enter the machine in a horizontal positionresting on their flat broad sides, with their open ends facing inwardlyand their metal bottoms facing outwardly as shown in Fig. 1. In thisposition the containers are received on and are propelled along ahorizontally disposed table 2| (Figs. 1 and 2) which extends across thefront of the machine for its full length. This table is supported on aframe 22 which constitutes the main frame of the machine.

The containers A are propelled along the table 2| in a continuousprocession with their narrow side walls touching each other, by anendless chain conveyor 24 which constitutes a feed-in conveyor and whichis disposed adjacent the entrance end of the table and extends along itsouter edge for substantiall one half its length. This feed conveyorcarries a plurality of permanent magnets 25 secured thereto at spacedintervals for engagement with the metal bottoms of the containers foradvancing the containers along the table. The magnets preferably engagethe end seams which unite the bottoms B to the containers so as toprevent being caught in the countersunk panel usually provided in thecontainer bottoms. A guide rail 26 secured to the inner edge of thetable 2| opposite the conveyor 24 guides the containers adjacent theiropen ends.

The feed-in conveyor 24 operates continuously over an idler sprocket 28and a driving sprocket 29. The idler sprocket 28 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 3| carried in bearings 32 formed in a support stand 33which supports the outer overhanging end of the table 2|. The drivingsprocket 29 is mounted on a horizontal drive shaft 35 journaled inbearings 35 formed in the main frame 22. The drive shaft is continuouslyrotated by an endless drive chain 87 which operates over a drivensprocket 38 carried on the drive shaft 3-5 and over a main drivingsprocket 39 mounted on the outer end of a driving shaft 4| journaled inbearings 82 (see Figs. 3 and 4) formed in the main frame adjacent itsbase.

The driving shaft 4| is rotated continuously by a speed reducingmechanism enclosed in a housing M (Figs. 4 and 5) and includes a bevelgear 45 which meshes with a bevel gear A5 carried on the driving shaftdl. The speed reducing mechanism is actuated by a continuously rotatingmain shaft 38 which is journaled in bearings 19 formed in the main frame22. This main shaft is driven in any suitable manner.

Hence through the above described connection with the main shaft 48, thefeed-in conveyor 2t advances a line of containers across the front ofthe machine along the table 2| for its full length. Since the feed-inconveyor extends for substantially one half this length, the containersbeyond the conveyor are advanced b contact with each other, a followingcontainer pushing a leading container across the table until at leastsix of such containers are free of the conveyor.

With the portion of the table 2| beyond the feed-in conveyor 24 thusfilled with containers, the leading container engages against a stopplate 55 adjustably secured to the table. This stop plate arrestsfurther advancement of the entire line of containers in the machine.However thefeed-in conveyor 24 continues to operate, the magnets 25sliding along the end seams of the bottoms B of the containers at restadjacent the conveyor.

While the procession of containers A is temporarily at rest, a group ofthe three leading containers is pushed outwardly, laterally of the plO-cession as viewed in Fig. 1 for discharge from the machine, whilesimultaneously a second group of the next three container is pushedinwardly, laterally of the procession for a printing operation, theremainder of the procession of containers being restrained fromadvancement. Following the printing operation, the printed containersare returned to the procession, and the procession permitted to advanceuntil the leading printed container engages against the stop plate 5|.This is followed by a repetition of the above operations in whichadvancement of the procession is arrested, the three leading printedcontainers being discharged from the procession and the three nextfollowing containers being displaced from the procession for printing atthe printing station and then returned to the procession for advancementto the discharge station. through the machine, are printed, and are thendischarged to any suitable place of deposit.

This cycle of operations is effected in timed or- In this manner thecontainers advance.

der by a one revolution clutch 52 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which is controlledby a normally open electric switch 53 (Figs. 1 and 3) secured to thestop plate 5|. The switch is provided with a movable element 54 which isengaged by the leading container A in the procession when it contactsthe stop plate and thus closes the switch. It is the closing of thisswitch that starts the cycle of operations of the machine.

The one revolution clutch 52 includes a continuously rotatin drivemember 56 (Figs. 4, 5 and 8) and a normally stationary driven member 57formed with a double face cam 58. The drive member 56 is mounted on andis rotated by a short drive shaft 6| (Fig. 5) of the speed reducingmechanism 44. The driven member 51 is mounted on a short shouldereddriven shaft 62 which forms a'i'ree continuation of the drive shaft 6|,the inner end of the driven shaft 62 being formed with a loose bearing63 for the drive shaft 6|. The outer end of the driven shaft 62 iscarried in a bearing bracket 64 bolted to the base of the main frame 22.

The driven member 5! carries a driving pin 66 (Fig. 5) which isslideably disposed in a horizontal bore 67 formed in the member. Theinner end of the driving pin is disposed in radial alignment with adriving bore 68 formed in the adjacent face of the drive member 56. Acompression spring 69 housed within the driving pin 66 and pressingagainst the driven member 51 urges the pin toward the drive member 56.

The driving pin 66 is normally held in a retracted position free of thedrive member 56 by a yoke 1| having a curved tapered face 12 (see Figs.5, 8 and 11) which is disposed in an annular groove 13 formed in theouter periphery of the driven member 57. This face of the yoke extendsinto a segmental groove 14 formed in the driving pin and thus holds thepin in place. The yoke is held in place by a spring barrel 76 whichengages under the yoke and which is disposed in a hollow support 71secured to the base of the main frame 22. The yoke is formed on the freeend of an arm I8 which is mounted on a pivot pin is carried in a bracket8| bolted to the base of the main frame 22.

The driven member 57 is periodically rotated by the drive member 56through the driving pin 66 by the automatic tripping or release of thispin. This release of the driving pin 66 is brought about by an uprighttrip member which extends up through a wide groove 86 formed in a sideof the yoke arm 78 (see Fig. 8). The groove is considerably wider thanthe arm. A flat spring 81 secured to the back edge of the trip memberand disposed in the wide groove 85, between the member and the yoke arm,presses the member forwardly toward the yoke H. The inner edge of thetrip member 85 is formed with a release shoulder 9| (Fig. 8) which isnormally held in overhanging engagement with the yoke 7| adjacent thewide groove 86, by the flat spring 87.

Adjacent its upper end, the trip member 85 engages in the groove 73 ofthe driven member 57 for locating and retaining the member againstlateral displacement. This end of the member is formed With a shoe 92which rides against an edge cam 93 formed on the driven member 51 (seeFig. 3)

The lower end of the trip member 85 is pivotally connected to a rockerbar 95 (Fig. 8) which intermediate it ends is mounted on a pivot stud 96secured in the bracket 8|. The outer end of the rocker bar is pivotallyconnected to a link printing as explained above.

91 which extends up above the clutch device and at its upper end issecured to a movable core 98 (see Fig.3) of a normally tie-energizedelectric solenoid 99; This solenoid is connected to the switch 53 by anelectric circuit which includes lead Wires I8I, I02, I83 which connectthe solenoid and the switch to a suitable source of electric currentsuch as a generator I 04.

Hence when the switch 53 is closed by the pressure of the leadingcontainer A in the procession of containers in the machine, the solenoid99 is energized and this draws its core 98 upwardly. The solenoidremains energized as long as a container is in place against the switchelement 54. Upward movement of solenoid core 98 hits the link 91 andthis rocks the rocker bar 95 and thus draws down on the trip member 85.

This downward movement of the trip member 85, through its releaseshoulder 9I pulls down on the yoke II and thus withdraws the yoke fromthe segmental groove 14 in the driving pin 66. The driving pin is thusreleased and under the pressure of its compression spring 69 is urgedinwardly into engagement with the face of the continuously moving drivemember 56.

When'the bore 68 of the drive member comes into register with thedriving pin 66, the pin enters the bore and thus the drive member 56 andthe driven member 5! become locked together and rotate as a unitarystructure through one complete revolution. At the termination of thissingle revolution, the driven member 51 is disconnected from the drivemember 56 and the driven member thus ceases rotation while the drivemember continues to rotate.

' Release of the driven member 51 from the drive member 56 is broughtabout through the yoke II. For this purpose the edge cam 93 on thedriven member 51 pushes the trip member 85 outwardly against theresistance of its fiat spring 81, as soon as the driven member begins torotate with the drive member, and this forces the release shoulder 9| ofthe trip member out of engagement with the yoke I I. The yoke thereuponis pushed upwardly into its original position in the path of travel ofthe driving pin 66, bythe pressure of the yoke spring barrel I6 (Fig.5).

Hence when the driving pin 66, during its travel with the driving member56 through one revolution, comes adjacent the tapered curved face I2 ofthe released yoke 'II, the segmental groove M in the driving pin ridesonto the tapered face I2 and the pin is thus shifted endwise. Thisshifting of the pin withdraws it from the drive member 56 and returns itto its original position and this disconnects the drive member 56 fromthe driven member 51. The driven member immediately stops rotating andremains stationary until the next energization of the solenoid 99.During this cycle of operation the solenoid 99 becomes ole-energized bythe discharge of the printed containers as mentioned above and thispermits the solenoid core 98 and link 91 to fall and thus raise the tripmember 85 to its original position engaged with the yoke II for a repeatoperation.

During the one revolution cycle of operation of the clutch 52 asdescribed above, the double face cam 58 formed on the driven member 51and rotating therewith actuates the mechanism for discharging the groupof printed containers and for displacing the next group of containersfor For this purpose one face of the double face cam 58 is formed with 6a camgroove III (Fig. 5) which controls a cam roller H2 carried on alever H3 (Fig. 3) mounted on a pivot pin H4 retained in the bracket 8|.

The outer end of the lever H3 is pivotally connected to an upwardlyextending link H5, the upper end of which is slideably disposed in ahousing H6 (see Figs. 6 and '7) which surrounds a horizontal gear shaftH1 carried in a pair of spaced bearings H8 formed in the main frame 22.This upper end of the link I I5 is formed with a rack I2I which mesheswith a pinion I22 disposed within the housing H6 and secured to the gearshaft II'I.

Hence during the rotation of the clutch cam 58, its cam groove I IIraises and lowers the rack I2I --at the proper time and thus through thepinion I22 rotates the gear shaft H'I, first in a clockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 6, through an operating movement and then in a reversedirection through a return movement. During the operating movement ofthe gear shaft III, the group of containers A to be printed are shiftedtransversely out of the procession of containers on the table 2I and aredeposited in the printing station. For this purpose the gear shaft H'Icarries a pair of spaced actuating gears I25 (Figs. 6 and 7) which meshwith a pair of spaced and parallel horizontal racks I 26 which operatein upper and lower slideways I21 secured to the main frame 22.

The outer ends of the racks I26 extend beneath the table 2I and carry apair of spaced and parallel tie rods I28 (see also Figs. 1 and 2) whichspan the space between the racks, the ends of the tie rods being securedin the racks. These tie rods support a pair of upright pusher legs I29which at their upper ends carry a cross beam I3I extending from one legto the other and having a plurality of permanent pusher magnets I82secured thereto. The magnets I32 are disposed in alignment with and inspaced relation to the metal bottoms B of the containers A opposite theprinting station.

Hence when the gearshaft I I1 rotates through an operating movement asexplained above, the actuating gears I25 slide the racks I26 toward theright as viewed in Fig. 6 and this advances the pusher magnets I32 intoengagement with the bottoms B of the group of containers opposite theprinting station and continues to push this group of containers acrossthe table 2I out of the procession of containers and into the printingstation to be printed as will be hereinafter explained.

During this advancement of the pusher magnets I32, their supporting legsI29 pass through clearance slots formed in the table to permit fulltravel of the magnets. The following containers in the line arerestrained from further advancement by a retaining plate I33 (Figs. 1, 2and 6) which is secured to the adjacent pusher leg I29 and which movesinto place in front of the remaining procession of containers when thepusher magnets I32 move inwardly.

Simultaneously with this insertion of the group of containers to beprinted, into the printing station, the leading group of containerswhich have been previously printed are pushed laterally out of theprocession of containers in the opposite direction for discharge fromthe machine. This movement of the printed group of containers iseffected by a discharge pusher plate I35 (Figs. 1, 2 and 9) which isdisposed adjacent the printing station side of the path of travel of theprocession The pusher plate I is mounted on a pair of adjusting screwsI36 carried in a support member I31 (see alsoFig. 10) bolted to ahorizontal rack I38. The rack is slideably carried in a pair of runwaybrackets I39 secured to main frame 22. The rack meshes with an idlergear I4I mounted on a short shaft I42 carried in a bearing I43 formed onthe main frame 22. The idler gear HI meshes with and is rotated by agear I45 (see also Fig. 7) carried on the outer end of the gear shaftII1.

Hence the rack I38 moves in unison with the racks I26 but in theoppositedirection and during an operating movement shifts the pusher plate I35outwardly against the leading or printed group of containers A and thuspushes these containers out of the procession of containers. Thedisplaced containers slide across a lateral extension I41 (Fig. l) ofthe table 2| and are pushed into engagement with a continuouslyoperating discharge conveyor I5I (Figs. 1, 2 and 9).

The discharge conveyor I5I is of the endless chain variety and operatesover a pair of spaced sprockets I52, I53 mounted on shafts I54, I55journaled in bearings formed in the main frame 22. The conveyor isoperated by a sprocket I59 (Figs. 1 and 9-) which is rotated by thedrive chain 31. This conveyor carries a plurality of spaced permanentmagnets I58 which attract the metal bottoms B of the shifted group ofprinted containers and thus hold them while advancing them laterallyinto a discharge chute IGI comprising a plurality of guide rails I62secured to the main frame 22. These guide rails guide the containers toany suitable place of deposit.

Returning now to the printing station hereinbefore mentioned, thecontainers A in the group shifted out of the procession for printing,are telescoped over a plurality of anvils or horns I65 (Figs. 1 and 6)which are disposed in spaced relation so as to receive the containerswithout disturbing their contiguous positions. There is one anvil foreach container. These anvils are secured to a bed plate I66 (Fig. 6)mounted on the upper end ofa vertical post I61 which is carried in aslide bearing I68 formed in a horizontal web I69 of the main frame 22.

Below the bearing I68 the post I91 is formed with a reduced diameterstem I1I which extends down through a boss I12 on a horizontal web I13of the frame. A compression spring I14 interposed between the post I61and the boss I12 and surrounding the stem I11 provides a yieldablemounting for the anvils or horns I65. Lock nuts I15 threadedly connectedonto the lower end of the stem I H are provided for vertical adjustmentof the anvils.

Telescoping of the containers A over the anvils or mandrels I65 for theprinting operation is effected by the pusher beam I3I and its attachedmagnets I32. The .beam remains in position with its magnets I32 incontact with the containers during the printing operation and thuslocates and holds the containers in proper position on the anvils.

Printing of the containers is effected through a colored ribbon I11(Fig. '3) by heated dies I18 disposed above the anvils I65. The ribbonI11 The ribbon from the roll extends down un- 8 der a guide I83 securedto the brackets I82, then passes under the dies I18 and an auxiliaryguide rod I84 secured in the main frame and is wound in any suitablemanner onto a roll I85 mounted on a rod I86 carried in brackets I81bolted to the back of the main frame.

The printing dies I18 are secured to the bot, tom of a head I9I (Figs.2, 3 and 6) which contains an electric heating element connected by leadwires I92, I93 to any suitable source of electric current, although anyother heating medium such as stream, hot oil, hot water Or the like maybe used if desired. The heated head I9I maintains the dies I18 in aheated condition. This head is secured to a vertical slide I94 whichoperates in a dovetail slideway I95 (see also Fig. 1) formed in theupper overhanging portion of the frame 22.

The slide I94 is lowered through a printing stroke and raised through areturn stroke by cooperating pairs of toggle links I96, I91 (Figs. 1 and3). The outer ends of the links I96 are pivotally connected to the slidewhile the outer ends of the links I91 are pivotally connected to themain frame 22 as best shown in Fig. 3. The inner ends of both sets oflinks I96, I91 are pivotally connected to one end of a rod I98. Theopposite end of the rod is pivotally connected to a pair of arms I99(Fig. 1) formed on a long hub Bill mounted on a pivot pin 292 the endsof which are carried in bearings 203 formed in the main frame 22.

The hub 20I is further formed with a pair of actuating arms 205 (Figs. 1and 3) which are pivotally connected to the upper end of an actuatingrod 206 which extends down towards the one revolution clutch 52. At itslower end the actuating rod 296 is pivotally connected to a pair ofparallel levers 291 mounted on the pivot pin Ht in the bracket 8|. Oneof the levers, intermediate its ends, carries a cam roller 208 (see alsoFigs. 4 and 5) which operates in a cam groove 209 formed in the outerface of the double faced clutch cam 58.

Hence while the containers A to be printed are held in position on theanvils I65 the cam groove 299 in the clutch cam 58 draws down on theactu.-. ating rod 266 and thus forces the toggle links I96, I91outwardly with the result that the slide I94 is moved down through aprinting stroke. Dun ing this downward movement of the slide, the heateddies I78 move down against the ribbon I11 and press the ribbon againstthe containers on the anvils I65. It is this action that prints thedesired indicia on the containers. Any overthrow .of the slide is takenup by the spring I14 (Fig. 6) under the anvil bed plate I 66. The slideI94 then moves up through a return stroke and thus Withdraws the diesfrom the printed or marked containers. This completes the printingoperation.

As soon as the dies I18 are clear of the printed containers, the pusherbeam I3I and its magnets I32 move outwardly through a return stroke.During'this return stroke, the magnets I32 withdraw the printedcontainers from the anvils I65 and return them to their originalposition in the procession of containers on the table 2'I. When thecontainers are in fully restored position, they engage against astripper bar '2II (Figs. 1, 2 and 6') secured to the main frame 22adjacent the path of :travel of the procession .of containers. Thisstripper bar arrests further outward movement of the containers and thuspermits the mag- :nets 21332 to detach themselves from the bottoms ofthecontainers. The containers are thus free containers. The dischargepusher plate I35 also returns empty to its original position. Thisreturn of the pusher beam l3l and the pusher plate 135 completes the onerevolution cycle of opera tion of the clutch 52 and also permits thefeed-in conveyor 24 to resume advancement of the con- I tainers.

Thus the unprinted containers push the group of printed containers alongthe table 2| into the space left by the discharge of the leading groupof containers, until the leading printed container engages the stopplate 5|. This arrests further advancement of the procession ofcontainers and also closes the electric switch 53 which controls the onerevolution clutch 52. The closing of this switch again sets the onerevolution clutch 52 into motion and hence a repeat cycle of operationsis effected as explained above.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. In a machine for printing on empty flexible walled containers havinga part responsive to magnetic attraction, the combination of an anvilfor supporting the walls of said containers, magnetic means movabletoward and away from said anvil for engaging the magnetizable portion ofa container to telescope the flexible wall of the container over saidanvil and for removing the container from said anvil by a pulling awayof the engaged magnetizabl portion, and a printing die movable towardand away from said anvil for printing on a said telescoped wall of saidcontainer while the latter is held over said anvil.

2. In a machine for printing on empty open ended flexible walledcontainers having closed bottom ends responsive to magnetic attraction,the combination of a support for receiving a container to be printedwith its bottom end in one direction, an anvil disposed adjacent saidsupport and adjacent the open end of a container on the support, apusher beam located adjacent the bottom end of the container and movabletoward and away from said anvil for shifting a received container fromsaid support and for inserting its open end in telescoping position oversaid anvil, a magnet carried by said pusher beam for engaging the bottomend of said container for locating and holding the container on saidanvil and for removing it from said anvil, and a printing die movabletoward and away from said anvil and engageable against a flexible wallof said container for printing on said container while it is over saidanvil.

3. In a machine for printing on empty containers having a partresponsive to magnetic attraction, the combination of a support forreceiving containers to be printed, a conveyor disposed adjacent saidsupport, a plurality of magnets carried by said conveyor and engageablewith containers on said support for magnetically holding said receivedcontainers and for advancing them in a procession along said support, an

anvil disposed adjacent the path of travel of said containers, pushermeans disposedopposite said anvil and movable toward and away from saidanvil for pushing a container off of said conveyor magnets and out ofsaid procession of containers and for telescoping it over said anvil,magnets carried by said pusher means and engaging said container forremoving it from said anvil and for returning it to its originalposition in said procession of containers with the return movement ofsaid pusher means, and aprinting die movable toward and away from saidanvil for printing on said container while the latter is over saidanvil.

4. In a machine for printing on empty containers having a bottom endresponsive to magnetic attraction, the combination of a'support forreceiving containers with their bottom ends along one side, a conveyordisposed at the side of said support adjacent the container bottoms,

said conveyor having magnets for engaging the container bottoms'and foradvancing a procession of-said containers along said supportpan anvildisposed at a printing station adjacent the path of travel of saidcontainers, pusher means disposed opposite said anvil and movable towardand away from said anvil, said means having magnets for engaging acontainer bottom for pushing a container out of said procession and fortelescoping it over said anvil and for removing it from said anvil andfor returning it to its original position in said procession ofcontainers, a stripper bar carried on said support for stripping theprinted container from said pusher magnets when the container isreturned,

a printing die movable toward and away from said anvil for printing onsaid container while the latter is over said anvil, means disposedadjacent said path of travel of said containers at a discharge stationfor forcing a printed container out of said procession of containers fordischarge from the machine, a discharge conveyor disposed adjacent saiddischarge station, and a plurality of magnets carried on said dischargeconveyor for engaging the bottom of a displaced printed container fordischarging it fromthe machine.

5. In a machine for printing on empty containers having an open end anda bottom end responsive to magnetic attraction, the combination of asupport for receiving containers to be printed with their bottom endsfacing in the same direction, feeding means including a chain conveyorcarrying magnets operable adjacent the bottom ends of the containers foradvancing a procession of said containers along said support, an anvildisposed at a printing station on the side of the open ends of thecontainers and adjacent the path of travel of said containers, a pusherbeam disposed opposite said anvil and movable toward and away from saidanvil for pushing a container out of said procession of containers andfor telescoping it over said anvil, said pusher beam carrying magnetsengageable with the bottom end of the container for pulling thecontainer from said anvil and for returning it to its original positionin said procession of containers, a printing die movable toward and awayfrom said anvil for printing on said container while the latter is oversaid anvil, a pusher plate disposed adjacent said path of travel of saidcontainers at a discharge station for forcing a printed container out ofsaid procession of containers for discharge from the machine, and adouble cam for actuating said pusher beam,

11 said pusher plate, and said printing diein timed relation.

6. In a machine for printing on empty open ended containers, thecombination of a support for receiving transversely disposed containersto be printed with their open ends disposed in the same direction,continuous feeding means operable adjacent the closed ends of saidcontainers for advancing a procession of said containers along saidsupport, a plurality of anvils disposed alongside of the open ends ofsaid containers adjacent the path of travel of said containers at aprinting station, means adjacent an end of said support for arrestingthe advancement of said procession of containers Without stopping saidfeedingmeans, a pusher beam alongside of the closed ends of saidcontainers on said support and movable toward and away from said anvilsfor pushing a group of containers out of said procession and fortelescoping their open 2 ends simultaneously over said anvils and forremoving them simultaneously from said anvils and for returning them totheir original positions in said procession of containers, means mountedon said pusher beam unit and movable across the path of travel of thecontainers on said support for holding back the incoming containersadjacent said displaced group of the containers while the latter are outof position, a plurality of printing dies movable toward and away fromsaid anvils for printing on said displaced containers while they areover said anvils, and a pusher plate disposed adjacent said path oftravel of said containers at a discharge station located beyond saidprinting station for pushing a group of printed containers out of saidprocession of containers for discharge from the machine.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST.

WILLIAM F. GRUPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 Number Name Date 592,609 Heywood Oct. 26, 18971,071,604 Cavanagh Aug. 26, 1913 1,339,881 De Barres May 11, 19201,892,590 Steele et a1 Dec. 27, 1932 2,200,276 Hothersall et a1 May 14,1940 2,262,799 Everett Nov. 18, 1941 2,351,660 Campbell June 20, 1944

